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Taking a sabbatical from a professional life in IT, Srikala Gangi Reddy presents her first solo show “a Walk down a winding path” inspired by the Nrityagram dancers. The art show is an ode to the sublime aesthetics of the Odissi dance form and an attempt to capture the human body in moments of sheer grace and divine harmony. Presented by Niviriti-The Art Quarter, the show will be inaugurated with a special preview on March 25th 2015 and continue till March 29th, 2015 at the Art Centre, 1 MG Mall, Bangalore.

“a Walk down a winding path” is a confluence of Srikala’s journey as an artist, nurtured and shaped by Sameena Sharif and K.S. Sharif of Expression School of Fine Arts and Nrityagram. The odyssey of discovery began when she visited Nrityagram and observed the Odissi dancers and students.

Nrityagram offers visitors a unique opportunity to view rehearsals. Srikala says, “I was fortunate to watch Surupa Sen and Bijayini Satpathy in the midst of a rendition. It seemed like they could dance for hours oblivious to the audience around them; the experience was awe inspiring and something struck a chord and I felt connected.”

The inspiration lingered and led to the idea of presenting on canvas their dedication, passion and aesthetics of their dance.

She adds, “A glimpse into the dancer’s world shows you their unrelenting passion, sheer hard work, their belief in a dream and the pursuit of keeping it alive despite all odds. I look up to them for this and find a resonance within.”

Kiran Bagade - Chief Curator & Director - Nivriti - the Art Quarter says, "Srikala has an innate grasp of the medium and is an artist with pedigree of eclectic convictions in art and couture of colors. The expressions almost revel in understated intensity and core. The temperance of mood and energy with a subtle echo of absolute traditional form is what has made this series unique in being an ode to the art form of Odissi."

Her works rendered in acrylic, oil on canvas and charcoal, captures the ethereal beauty of the dancers, their timeless postures, expressions and aura. Each art piece is a story expressing in detail the minutiae of the posture in pristine form. The brilliant interplay of light and shadows are an effortless mingling of divine form and grace. The strokes evoke an immediacy of the art form and the black & white shades epitomize the magical translucence of the myriad movements and mudras.

Sharing her thoughts on her first solo show, Srikala says, “This show is about a desire and a passion for perfection, mine and the dancers’. Every moment and mood I have captured is perfect, complete in itself and needs no more drama or effects to describe it. Sometimes in life, you experience a moment where everything falls into place just right. These are those moments. ”

“I don’t know if I’m a perfectionist, you should ask my husband that!” she adds, laughing. “But this series has definitely highlighted that aspect of my life. The madness and wild impulses which are there in my life may inspire my next series, but not this one! Like a beautifully draped sari, like a tight garland of flowers, like the fine filigree of a necklace, like an inviting seductive glance, these moments too are not overdone or understated. This is controlled, planned, perfected grace.”

Mr. Bagade further says, “The black & white oeuvre of this present collection reflects the disturbing oddity of patronage to this stark, staid and sometimes abrasive mark on the conscience of art viewers and connoisseurs alike. It is this quality of the artist's mindscape that I find endearing and willing to experiment with both form and convention.”

‘a Walk down a winding path’ will feature 30 artworks taking one through the process of discovery of a dancer’s passion and hard work. The art works are extremely transformational; it can enchant anyone, and make it difficult to differentiate the real world from a fantasy world. The artist’s attention towards each detail makes them look authentic and existent. It is the mesmerizing blend of colors and the playfulness in the strokes that makes the paintings come truly alive.

The artworks will be on display at the Art Centre, No: 1, MG Mall from March 26-29, 2015 from 11 am to 8 pm and with a preview on March 25th from 7 - 9 pm.